Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
January/February 2024
Research Updates from Virginia Tech Plus, Highlights from the
2024 VAC Legislative Appreciation Banquet
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | January/February 2024
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RECENT EVENT
DEPARTMENTS
10 VAC Legislative Banquet
6 President’s Message from Phil Bailey, CGCS
8 Director’s Corner
COVER STORY
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
14 Research Updates from Virginia Tech
8 Virginia Tech Turf Team 9 Index of Advertisers
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
13 News from VTC
26 Cultivating an Environment of Growth
13 Turfgrass Calendar
Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More on T H E T U R F Z O N E . C O M Connect with us on social media X . C O M / T H E T U R F Z O N E
4 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
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Virginia Turfgrass Journal
President’s Message
is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471
Cheers to a New Year
Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net
Phil Bailey VTC President
PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee 37064
We
have just embarked on a New Year with numerous opportunities to refine, expand or create new business opportunities. The turf and landscape industry has had a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% since 2022 as estimated by Mordor Intelligence with 72% of current customers looking to continue or expand services according to “Realtor Magazine”. What great opportunities wait for those that are looking to work hard and have a successful career. Our New Year’s goal at the Virginia Turfgrass Environmental Institute (VTCEI) is to assist you in establishing this growth and ensure that your organization carries the correct licenses, credentials, knowledge, and support to meet those goals. VTC provides free recertification opportunities for your fertilizer and pesticide licensing. With that in mind, the VTC will be working with Landscape Supply in March to provide a virtual recertification class. With events like these, the VTC develops programing to meet today’s challenges in the industry. VTC-EI highlights your sound environmental practices to provide safe solutions to provide a healthy, green, safe pollinator friendly green space. VTC-EI also has a strong goal to collaborate with legislators to defend industry’s ability to provide these sensible green services. We are presenting your concerns to legislators. We are working with VDACS to create a more streamlined process for pesticide certification and recertification. And there is now the potential for VDACS to eliminate business license fees. All these efforts – and more – are positive responses to our efforts. We continue to ask for your support. Without your membership, donations and funding the VTC-EI would not have the capability to defend our industry and create a growing environment for the New Year.
(615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 info@leadingedgecommunications.com VTC OFFICERS President Phil Bailey, CGCS Isle of Wight County Parks & Recreation (757) 572-1981 Vice President Wes Bray Lawns & Gardens Plus (757) 422-2117 VTC DIRECTORS Sam Burris Jack Findling Ray Funkhouser Richard Linsday Bruce Sheppard T.J. Skirsky Harris Wheeler, CTP
Wishing you increased success for the New Year,
Craig Zeigler
Phil Bailey VTC President
VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Cynthia Smith, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
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Virginia Tech Turf Team
Director’s Corner
Meaningful Partnerships through VTC-EI
Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5807 askew@vt.edu
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
The
VTC Environmental Institute meets critical needs during these challenging and changing times. Anti-industry pressures come from many sources including legislative and regulatory decrees, newspaper and magazine articles, and many more. Realizing that most of the rhetoric was coming from persons not fully informed but who share our deep concerns about the environment, we formed the Institute to work together towards solutions. We are serving as a bridge with the goal of promoting dialogue and collaboration instead of stereotyping and compartmentalizing. In just under four years, the Environmental Institute achieved tremendous success – meaningful partnerships have been established. Such partnerships were considered impossible a few years ago and they reveal the willingness of individuals and associations to join hands and work together on issues that affect the green industry and the environment. We are connecting our industry with environmental groups, regulatory agencies, elected officials, and schools training young persons for leadership positions. As you know, negative stereotypes about the turf and landscape industry abound. Repeatedly, those stereotypes are shattered and industry adverse laws and regulations are prevented when persons realize our value. Please give generously so we can continue our great work for you, the industry professional. Your contributions are tax-deductible because the VTC Environmental Institute is a 501(c)3 corporation.
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
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Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3900 adelpozo@vt.edu Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3912 jderr@vt.edu Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-2951 goatley@vt.edu David McCall, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 170 Drillfield Dr. 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9775 dsandor@vt.edu WITH SUPPORT FROM:
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8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Agronomic Lawn Management...............Inside Back Cover www.FertilizerWithALM.com
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East Coast Sod & Seed..................................... 8 www.eastcoastsod.com
Ernst Conservation Seeds...............................13 www.ernstseed.com
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Greene County Fertilizer Co..........................11 www.greenecountyfert.com
Harmon Turf Services, Inc................................. 5 www.harmonturfservices.com
Home Field Fertilizer / Meadowspring Turf Farm...............................11 www.meadowspringturf.com
Landmark Turf & Native Seed........................15 www.landmarkturfandnativeseed.com
McGill Premium Compost...............................20 www.mcgillsoilbuilder.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL...........................................19 www.stihldealers.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc.......................17 www.progressiveturfequip.com
Revels Tractor Co. Inc....................................... 3 www.revelstractor.com
Smith Seed Services.......................................... 6 www.smithseed.com
Smith Turf & Irrigation......................Back Cover www.smithturf.com
Sod Solutions...................................................23 www.sodsolutions.com
The Turf Zone............................................21, 26 www.theturfzone.com
The Turfgrass Group.......................................... 7 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Weed Man......................................................25 www.weedmanfranchise.com
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( TOLL FREE ) sales@leadingedgecommunications.com www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 9
Recent Event
On
January 11, 2024 we were privileged to participate in the Virginia Agribusiness Council’s 52nd Annual Legislative Appreciation Banquet. Thanks to TruGreen, we were one of two reception sponsors. A benefit of that level of sponsorship was having a display table by the entrance and next to the main staircase. Our logo was also on signage and on napkins.
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Our industry was well represented: • N.A.L.P and the VTC Environmental Institute had tables on the front row next to the stage • TruGreen was recognized as the awards sponsor • Patrick Connelly and Virginia Green were given awards • We had fantastic opportunities to interact with legislators from both sides of the political aisle. Photo 1: President Phil Bailey stands next to our sign that promotes the value of properly maintained turfgrass. Photo 2: Vice-President Wes Bray by one of our signs. Photo 3: Awards Banner Showing TruGreen as the Sponsor, Patrick Connelly – Distinguished Leader Award, Virginia Green - Agribusiness of the Year Award, “To Be Presented” - The winner, announced during the banquet, was a guest at our table! Photo 4: Cindy Smith, Advisory Member, Sitting next to Del. Bulova Photo 5: Delegate Bulova accepting the Distinguished Friend of Agribusiness Award Photo 6: Governor Youngkin Giving the Keynote Address Photo 7: Board Member Harris Wheeler and Advisor Cindy Smith Photo 8: N.A.L.P and VTC persons Photo 9: Delegate Bobby Orr at N.A.L.P. table.
10 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
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Turfgrass Calendar
Save These Dates ! MARCH 13 & 14, 2024
Pesticide Recertification Webinars Administered by the Virginia Turfgrass Council and sponsored by Landscape Supply
News from VTC
RECERTIFICATION CLASS NEWS Landscape Supply is graciously transferring their existing pesticide recertification class to the VTC. Kevin Connolly of Landscape Supply is putting forth tremendous efforts to help us in the transition. Many details still need to be developed, but here are the very basics: • The event will be held March 13 & 14. • Persons will register for either day, not both. • The event will be a zoom webinar. • We will seek recertification approval from VA, MD, WVA, and NC.
JUNE 27, 2024
Hampton Roads AREC Turfgrass Field Day Virginia Beach, VA
Native Grass & Wildflower Seed
AUGUST 26 – 27, 2024
Virginia Tech Turfgrass Field Day Blacksburg, VA
DECEMBER 3 – 5, 2024
Lawn & Landscape Short Course Henrico, VA
For event updates throughout the year, visit
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 13
COVER STORY
RESEARCH UPDATES FROM
Humic Acid-Based Biostimulant Improves Salt Stress Tolerance of Creeping Bentgrass By Xunzhong Zhang, Ph.D., Mike Goatley, Ph.D., Rose Harvey, Isabel Brown, and Kelly Kosiarski School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
T
urfgrass is perhaps one of the most important vegetative ground covers in the world as it provides functional, recreational, and ornamental purposes to our landscapes, particularly in urban communities. Salt stress is considered to be one of the major limiting factors in turfgrass management in many regions. Salt stress causes ion imbalance, excess reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative injury, inhibition of root and shoot growth. To improve turfgrass quality and stress tolerance, turfgrass practitioners have used various cultural practices and chemical products, including biostimulants. Plant biostimulants have been used to improve stress tolerance and quality of turfgrasses. Humic acid-based biostimulants have been used to improve turfgrass tolerance to abiotic stresses including salt stress. However, the mechanisms of humic acid-based biostimulant’s impact on salt stress tolerance have not been well understood. This study was to investigate the responses of turf quality, shoot and root growth, chlorophyll, photochemical efficiency, antioxidant metabolism and leaf nutrient content to exogenous application of humic acid-based biostimulant under salt stress conditions. Mature “A4” creeping bentgrass was transplanted from field plots to 15-cm pots. After growing in the non-stressed, optimum temperature, water, fertilizer, and light for five weeks, humic
acid-based biostimulant ‘EarthMax’ (5.6% humic acid, Harrell’s, Lakeland, FL) and salt stress treatments were initiated. There were five treatments including
1. Salt stress control 2. non-salt control 3. ‘EarthMax’ at 1 fl oz/1000 ft2 + salt stress 4. ‘EarthMax’ at 2 fl oz/1000 ft2+salt stress 5. ‘EarthMax’ at 4 fl oz/1000 ft2+salt stress The ‘EarthMax’ solution was applied to the canopy biweekly, and the same amount of water was applied to the controls (treatment #1 and 2). After 12 h of ‘EarthMax’ treatments, the salt stress was initiated. Sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was added into the soil with the concentrations gradually increasing from 2 ds/m to 8 ds/m within 48 h after initiation of salt stress treatment. The salt concentration in the growth media was maintained at about 8 ds/m level during eight-week period of the trial by monitoring the salt concentration with portable TDR-300 meter. Leaf color, green leaf percentage (GL), clipping yield, chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency (PE), antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, leaf inorganic ions, and root growth characteristics and viability were measured. A randomized block design was used with four replications. The data were analyzed with an analysis of variance and mean separations were performed with Fisher’s protected LSD at P = 0.05. Salt stress reduced leaf color ratings, clipping yield, chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, and reduced potassium (K+) and magnesium (Mg++), and increased sodium (Na+) content. The green leaf percentage (GL) declined in response to salt stress. The humic acid-based biostimulant applied at all three rates improved leaf color (Fig. 1), clipping production, GL, photosynthetic pigments, PE, antioxidant SOD activity, and root viability. The biostimulant treatments at the three rates reduced Na+ uptake and increased K+ and Mg++ nutrients uptake relative to the salt control. The results of this study indicated foliar application of the biostimulant, especially at the high rate (4 fl oz/1000 ft2) improved physiological fitness, leaf color, root viability, and salt stress tolerance of creeping bentgrass.
We’d like to thank Harrell’s for the support of this study.
Figure 1. Effects of foliar application of ‘EarthMax’ on leaf color of creeping bentgrass under salt stress.
14 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) By Matthew Tucker, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
L
ance nematodes have become increasingly problematic on golf course putting greens across Virginia. Turfgrass professionals are monitoring plant parasitic nematode populations more frequently by sending routine samples into nematode assay labs for quantification. Previous research has demonstrated variability between selected state labs in population estimates due to the use of different diagnostic methods, highlighting the need for a standard objective quantification method. The use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for quantitative estimates of various organisms is widely adopted for many diagnostics approaches but is understudied for turfgrass nematode estimations. In general, qPCR works using reaction additives to target a select region of DNA that is unique to an organism through a process of heating and cooling, referred to as a cycle (x40). Each cycle will multiply that specific region of DNA and activates a fluorescent dye proportional to the amount of DNA present. The number of cycles required to see the fluorescence is known as the cycle threshold (Ct) value. When the Ct value is low, it means there is a lot of DNA present that is causing fluorescence to be seen quickly and when the Ct value is high, it means that more cycles are required to identify the presence of any DNA. The objective of this research is to refine a qPCR technique for identification and quantification of lance nematodes from golf course putting greens. Five samples of DNA extracted from 100 handpicked lance nematode using a Qiagen Powersoil DNA kit produced a Ct range of 28.9-34.7. This range is wide and suggests inconsistency. Lance nematode populations that were hand counted from 28 plots collected at Belmont Golf Course (BGC) in Richmond, VA resulted in a cycle threshold range of 20.949-25.686. Based on information previously stated, one might assume higher levels of lance nematodes from the BGC samples, but some things were not adding up upon closer inspection. Some samples should have fallen around the range of the handpicked nematodes, but all reactions were lower in Ct values. This suggests a degree of error across reactions.
We then handpicked samples of 250, 100, 50, and 20 lance nematodes to validate our range for 100 handpicked lance nematodes by addressing multiple avenues of human error. Results from the new handpicked samples produced Ct values that made more logical sense with the sample of 250 resulting in the lowest Ct value and the sample of 20 the highest. These results suggest that qPCR is a valid and objective way to both identify and quantify lance nematode presence; however, future research will continue to refine this process of reducing human error to maximize quantification consistency.
Interlab variability
Nematode assay extraction methods vary by lab for quantifying plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) from turfgrass samples. The objective of this research was to compare the relative extraction efficiencies of homogenous turfgrass samples by various state nematode labs. Random samples were collected from three locations across the Mid-Atlantic United States, homogenized, and divided into thirty 500 cc subsamples. Three subsamples from each location were sent to ten state nematode assay labs (n=90). Semi-automatic elutriation (n=27) was used to extract PPN by three labs; Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia. Nematodes were extracted by hand sieving (n=63) in the remaining seven labs; Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Six PPN genera identified across all labs included lance, ring, stunt, root-knot, spiral, and stubby root. Five or six genera of PPN were different by state where spiral was similar across states due to low or no populations present. Estimated populations of PPN varied among states with the same extraction methods. Extractions using semi-automatic elutriation were similar among the three tested labs for all genera except lance, where estimated populations were higher from the Virginia lab than from Louisiana or North Carolina labs. Estimated populations were significantly different for four of six genera when evaluated using the handsieving method. Analysis by method suggests that a component of automation may reduce variability among PPN counts. Ultimately, this research demonstrates the need to use the same lab over time for the most consistent PPN information.
Table 1. Comparison of nematode extraction efficiencies of six genera of plant parasitic nematode by state and by method used. Highlighted sections denote significance. This table suggests that semi-automatic elutriation is a more consistent method of extracting nematodes compared with hand sieving. By State
By Semi-Automatic Elutriation
By Hand Sieving
P-value
P-value
P-value
Lance
0.0001
0.0021
0.0027
Ring
0.0385
0.1487
0.1030
Stunt
0.0051
0.1001
0.0344
Root-knot
0.0329
0.0639
0.0802
Spiral
0.443
0.3678
0.0066
Stubby root
0.0191
0.5025
0.0462
16 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
AMPLIFICATION PLOT
ΔRn
1.00
0.100
0.0100
0.00100 5
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40
CYCLE
Figure 1. Amplification plot showing a linear progression of handpicked lance nematode counts of 250, 100, 50, and 20. The circles, from left to right, represent groupings of DNA for 250, 100, 50, and 20 handpicked lance nematodes respectively.
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 17
Empowering Turfgrass Management: The Impact of Automated Machine Learning on Dollar Spot Control
2. Consistency Across the Board: Standardized disease
quantification ensures consistency in turfgrass management practices. This consistency is pivotal for making informed decisions on disease control strategies, optimizing resource allocation, and promoting overall turf health.
By Elisabeth Kitchin, Masters of Science in Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Science
3. Reduced Human Bias: The reliance on automated assessments mitigates the subjectivity of manual evaluations. This reduction in observer bias leads to more reliable and impartial disease quantification, allowing for objective decision-making in disease control and turfgrass maintenance.
In
turfgrass management, dollar spot disease demands precise strategies. This article introduces an advanced machine-learning model for professionals, transforming disease identification and quantification. This research focuses on refining a machine-learning algorithm through extensive training, achieving exceptional accuracy (93%) and precision (76%) in various conditions. This technology streamlines identification, precisely mapping disease spots in turfgrass images. The automated model is significant for the turfgrass industry, reducing time and human bias in disease quantification by eliminating labor-intensive manual assessments. This shift establishes a standardized methodology, ensuring consistent and reliable disease assessment practices for turfgrass managers.
So, what does this mean for the turfgrass industry? 1. Efficiency Gains: The automation of disease quan-
tification translates to time and resource savings for turfgrass professionals. Managers can promptly implement targeted disease control measures with quicker and more accurate assessments.
4. Enhanced Decision-Making: Armed with accurate
and consistent disease data, turfgrass managers can make well-informed decisions regarding disease control measures and overall turfgrass maintenance. This empowers professionals to manage disease outbreaks and optimize turf health proactively.
In conclusion, the implications of this technology are far-reaching, promising a more resilient and sustainable approach to tackling the challenges posed by dollar spot disease. Ongoing efforts are underway to enhance its accuracy further and expand its applicability under diverse conditions. With continued development and validation, this innovative tool will hopefully become accessible to the broader turfgrass community, offering an invaluable resource for industry professionals in their ongoing quest for efficient and precise disease control strategies.
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18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
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Irrigation Audits: A Task That Can Be So ‘Irrigating’, Or Does It?
Post-Audit: From here, after a successful irrigation-audit, DU can be calculated through the mathematical formulas seen below:
By Travis Roberson, Graduate Research Associate
I
rrigation audits (IA) are conducted across all areas of turfgrass that are intensively managed such as golf courses (greens, tees, and fairways), athletic fields, and commercial lawn care. An audit is performed to evaluate the efficiency of an irrigation system known as the distribution uniformity (DU). Using an audit to spatially calculate DU values also helps to identify areas with problems not seen through macro-observations by engaging the system. While it is recommended to perform multiple IA per year, the most optimal time is in the late winter to early spring seasons to allow any modifications to be implemented prior to the onset of elevated evapotranspiration rates. Evaluating irrigation systems requires a few key procedures: PreAudit, Irrigation-Audit, and Post-Audit to successfully capture viable information and determine the presence of problems that require professional attention. Pre-Audit: a successful IA is conducted when the entire system is functioning at an optimal level but ‘optimal’ must be determined by the manager himself. Inconsistencies of the system can occur based on instances such as tree roots heaving irrigation heads, major leaks (at the irrigation head or pipe), clogged screens, sunken sprinkler heads, etc. You may elect to not fix these issues prior to an audit if you are using the audit to display major defects in the system, so the goal of the IA must be determined to assess the effort required for the ‘Pre-Audit’ step. Irrigation-Audit: prior to actually performing the audit, it is important to document relevant information such as sprinkler head operating pressure, number of heads tested at a single IA cycle, head spacing and location, type of irrigation controller/ management software, current watering schedule and a root zone depth assessment, relative soil moisture content before and after irrigation application, windspeed and pre-determined test zone runtime. After all these ancillary details are documented, a comprehensive map documenting the irrigation zone layout and number of catch cans/placement is documented. From here, the irrigation zone is activated and the catch cans that are laid out in a systematic fashion (previously established based on the site location and irrigation head layout) collect the water during this runtime. Site inspection sheets are used after the runtime to measure each catch can and to make any specific notes such as leaks seen during the audit, nozzle issues, arc misalignments, etc.
DU =
VLQ VT
Where DU is distribution uniformity, Vlq is average of the lowest 25% of catch can volumes and Vtotal is the average of all of the catch can volumes. It is important to note that the industry standard is a DU of 70%, where anything above this value is considered a functionally operating irrigation system but also varies based on the type of irrigation heads being tested. As seen, it is a very intensive process to determine the effectiveness of an irrigation system that requires a substantial amount of time and set up to be performed effectively. Within our lab at Virginia Tech, we are experimenting with a newer way to evaluate the same detailed information in a more rapid fashion through drone thermal imagery. At Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, Virginia, in the summer of 2023, we went through the same industry processes to evaluate catch can volume data compared to aerial thermal imagery collected through a Mavic 3T drone, one of the newer ones on the market. We evaluated four greens and tee locations to study areas that are all sand-based medium rootzones but with little to no slope and/ or undulations. Using many different software packages we used drone flights, high overlapping thermal imagery to make larger orthomosaic, extract pixel data values, and compare to catch can volumes and have seen promising results. Our data suggests there is a negative relationship with the more water caught in a specific area decreasing thermal canopy values for bermudagrass greens and tees. These trends are promising to expedite irrigation auditing processes in the future, however, there is still a considerable amount of training required to post-process all of the necessary data. As technology (more so the ease of application for current technology) develops, thermal imagery may be an effective means for turfgrass managers to essentially run an irrigation zone for a specific runtime, collect thermal images, and upload to a repository for automatic data processing for DU outputs. Our end goal is to have this technology streamlined to reduce any friction turfgrass managers may have with wanting to identify irrigation limitations and wanting to improve their systems, ultimately maximizing water consumption of all intensively managed turfgrass areas!
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20 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
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Getting the Lay of the Land: How Topography and Related Factors Influence Spring Dead Spot Epidemics By Caleb Henderson, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
S
pring dead spot (SDS) is a soil borne disease that affects the rhizomes and stolons of bermudagrass and is more severe in areas with extended winter, where the plants go dormant. Information shared amongst turfgrass managers suggests that this disease tends to accumulate on north facing slopes and could also be more severe in low lying areas. Our research aimed to quantify the influence of hills, valleys, slopes and other topographic features as well related environmental factors including annual sunlight on the distribution of spring dead spot throughout golf course fairways. State lidar data was used to create maps and was combined with SDS locations identified from aerial imagery of 16 fairways across three locations throughout the state of Virginia. The slope angle, aspect (compass direction), annual sunlight, and landform shape of each portion of each fairway was calculated using geographic information software, ArcGIS Pro. Locations where SDS was detected were sampled for those factors compared to 1000 random points to act as a baseline for the average for the entirety of the fairway. After analysis we determined that while all of these factors did have a consistent influence on where SDS occurred, when combined they only account for approximately 1.2% of its location. We are currently re-evaluating our analysis but as it stands now, this research suggests that local topography is among a multitude of factors that contribute to SDS epidemics, but that topography, annual sunlight and slope angle, etc. do not completely dictate development.
LEFT: aerial image of a hole on a golf course, with the fairway outlined in black. RIGHT: image of the same golf course hole, showing the slopes calculated from state lidar data. This emphasizes the sheer amount of topographic change that can occur throughout a golf course hole and how that could influence where spring dead spot occurs.
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 21
The Full Monty: A Case Study of Precision Management of Spring Dead Spot across an Entire Golf Course’s Roughs and Fairways By Caleb Henderson, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
The
clustered nature of spring dead spot (SDS) provides opportunities to reduce fungicide inputs by making precision applications using GPS spray equipment. Previous research from our lab has demonstrated success with targeted applications, first using manually created spray maps and subsequently using computer automated SDS detection both using drone images. On-course applications have been scaled from small-plot research to covering full golf course fairways, with successes and challenges with each phase of new research. The objective of our current study was to apply zonal or targeted applications of Kabuto across an entire golf course using a combination of developed approaches and determine the commercial viability of the process as it stands now. Drone imagery was collected across all in-play areas of the Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, VA while SDS was visible in Spring 2022. Disease patches were then detected, and their GPS coordinates were recorded using the computer automation methods we discussed earlier. Disease maps were made by drawing one yard di-
ameter circles around spots in the rough, and spots in the fairway were mapped into zonal treatments based on the density of the points. These maps reduced the area sprayed across the course by around 80% compared to a broadcast application. Targeted Kabuto applications were made from disease incidence maps were input into a John Deere ProGator 2020A Precision Sprayer in the Fall and results were collected the following Spring. While the process was possible it was not without its difficulties. Our first sprayer broke at the last minute, so we had to re-format all of the maps for a then unfamiliar sprayer, which took time. However, these issues were overcome, and the fungicide applications were made. The results in the Spring of 2023 showed severe winterkill in many areas, likely due to the uncharacteristically warm winter with several deep cold snaps in December and February. This also caused several patches that were treated to show up the following year, but these quickly filled in. Other patches persisted due some inconsistencies with our zonal treatment methods leaving gaps where disease went untreated. Limited new patches occurred in untreated areas that did not have SDS the previous year. issues were addressed and in Fall 2023 applications all detected SDS was treated with one yard diameter circles. Final results will be collected in Spring 2024. While the process overall is possible, there is still a lot of specialized knowledge required. At this time we would not recommend the average golf course to begin performing in house, but do not be surprised if private entities begin to tackle this issue in the near future.
Travis Roberson making a fungicide application at Independence Golf Club with John Deere ProGator 2020A GPS sprayer.
22 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
Titles and Abstracts of all Projects By Ava Veith, Plant Pathology, Physiology and Weed Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
• ITC Annual Meeting in Japan 2025 o Title:
Improving Blue Grama Seedling Establishment As a Low Input Residential Lawn Grass Using Pre- and PostEmergent Herbicides o Abstract: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a low-input residential lawn alternative that is native to North America. Research indicates weed competition can be a detriment to successful establishment, inspiring this study. Our objective is to evaluate the growth attributes during establishment of ‘Birds Eye’ blue grama using pre- and post-emergence herbicides. Pre- and post-emergence herbicides were applied at three different seedling maturation ages. Plant response to herbicides was quantified by leaf height, leaf count, tiller count, root and shoot weight, and visually estimated injury over three weeks after application. Post-emergence herbicides were less injurious when applied three to five weeks after germination. Among post-emergence herbicides tested, carfentrazone-ethyl (Quicksilver, FMC GSS) and metsulfuron-methyl (Manor, NuFarm US) negatively impacted seedling establishment the least, regardless of maturity at application. Data collection of pre-emergence herbicides is underway.
• ASA Annual Meeting in St. Louis November 2023 o Title: Distribution of Winter Injury on Bermudagrass Athletic
Fields Relative to Athlete Movement Cold-related injury (winterkill) commonly impacts hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) athletic fields within the transitional zone during spring green-up. Winterkill can cause poor field conditions, potentially leading to more injuries among athletes using the fields recreationally. Widespread prevalence of winterkill across the Mid-Atlantic in 2023 led sports field managers to question the factors that contribute to this issue. One hypothesis is that areas with high soil compaction are more likely to experience winterkill. This study is designed to explore the relationship between the distribution of cold-related injury of bermudagrass athletic fields and estimated soil compaction. Georeferenced soil compaction across athletic fields was estimated using the IDW function in ArcGIS Pro with ground-truth surface firmness data collected using a Clegg Impact Tester. Aerial imagery was collected from a Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced drone and ortho mosaicked using Pix4Dmapper, with the turfgrass classified as winterkill or not using the binary Raster Calculator function in ArcGIS Pro. The frequency of winterkill occurring within estimated areas of compacted soils was assessed using 10,000 random points. Estimated surface firmness was 23% higher across all locations in areas that experienced winterkill than areas of green, actively growing bermudagrass (p<.0001). Estimated surface firmness varied by testing location, but areas within fields consistently overlapped areas of higher surface firmness regardless of location. Our data suggest that winterkill is most likely to occur within compacted soil surfaces.
o Abstract:
24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
o Title:
Improving Blue Grama Seedling Establishment As a Low Input Residential Lawn Grass Using Post-Emergent Herbicides o Abstract: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) is a low-input residential lawn alternative that is native to much of North America, from the Mexican Plateau to Canada and throughout much of the Great Plains. Previous research indicates weed competition can be a detriment to successful establishment of blue grama, which inspires the following investigation. Our objective is to evaluate the growth attributes during establishment of ‘Birds Eye’ blue grama as a residential lawn grass using post-emergence herbicides. Six commercially available post-emergence herbicides with single or multiple active ingredients were applied to blue grama at three different seedling maturation ages. Plant response to herbicides was quantified by leaf height, leaf count, tiller count, root and shoot weight, and visually estimated injury over three weeks after application. Our data suggest that all herbicides were less injurious to blue grama when applied three to five weeks after germination, with many products causing unacceptable injury one week after germination. Among post-emergence herbicides tested, carfentrazone-ethyl (Quicksilver, FMC GSS) and metsulfuron methyl (Manor, NuFarm US) negatively impacted blue grama seedling establishment the least, regardless of plant maturity at application. These two products can successfully be applied one week after germination to aid in establishment, with limited injury compared with all other herbicides tested. o Title: Spring Dead Spot and Winter Injury Impacts on Athletic Field Playability and Safety o Abstract: Spring dead spot (SDS) is the most destructive disease of hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x transvaalensis) in the transition zone. Sunken patches create a non-uniform playing surface on recreational fields that may impact surface playability and increase athlete injury potential. Cold-related injury (winterkill) also impacts hybrid bermudagrasses and often leaves much of the playing surface with minimal living turfgrass canopy. Both SDS and winterkill caused significant injury on athletic fields throughout much of the Mid-Atlantic US in 2023, leaving field managers concerned for athlete safety. Little research has been done to investigate the impact of SDS and winter injury on athletes. Our objective is to quantify the effects of SDS and cold-related injury on field performance and player safety, as measured using the Clegg Impact Tester, soil moisture sensor, shear vane, ball rebound device, and a FLEX testing device that simulates player acceleration and deceleration. Further, our study examined how an increase in surface moisture on SDS impacts these metrics. Data were collected from twenty matched pairs of SDS-symptomatic and asymptomatic bermudagrass on four athletic fields during peak symptom expression in May. Ten pairs were irrigated at each testing location immediately before data collection. To assess the impact of winterkill on field performance, data were collected from twenty matched pairs of symptomatic and asymptomatic bermudagrass on three athletic fields in May, however without irrigation. Our data suggest that winterkill has an impact on field playability. Bermudagrass winterkill impacts overall field playability based on increased surface hardness levels, less rotational resistance, and greater ball rebound values. SDS areas were shown to have less structural strength, have a higher ball rebound, and greater energy restitution than healthy areas. Additionally, our data suggests that SDS had a greater impact on athlete safety and field playability immediately after simulated rainfall.
• ASA Annual Meeting in Baltimore November 2022 o Title:
Spring Dead Spot Impact on Athlete Safety and Performance o Abstract: Spring dead spot (SDS) of bermudagrass presents a major concern on athletic fields due to the non-uniform surface created. However, the impact of SDS on athlete safety and performance has not been evaluated. The primary objective of this study was to define the influence of SDS on key metrics associated with field performance and athlete safety, including surface hardness and shock absorption, moisture levels, ball rebound, shear strength, force reduction, vertical deformation, energy restitution, and force impact. Additional metrics to define the impact of SDS on field uniformity were also collected. Data was collected from three hybrid bermudagrass baseball field fields in Richmond, VA in late May when SDS symptoms were most visible. Twenty matched pairs of SDS symptomatic and asymptomatic
bermudagrass served as replications for each data collection. Data was analyzed using ANOVA by comparing the percentage difference between SDS and healthy averages for each measurement. Our data suggests that SDS impacts surface depression, ball rebound, soil moisture, firmness of surface, and shear strength. When the field has an increased moisture content, vertical deformation, energy restitution, and impact values are also affected. We conclude that SDS impacts hybrid bermudagrass athletic field playing surfaces by creating a significant surface void that is firmer than the surrounding turf grass and absorbs more force from the athlete, therefore returning less energy to the player. Additionally, athletes’ cleat grip will be impacted by a weaker shear strength in SDS patches, suggesting an increased likelihood of slipping. Ball rebound is impacted by SDS, altering player perception of ball travel. Finally, our data suggests that SDS impacts field performance and player safety more on wet fields, though more data is needed to validate.
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Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2024 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064-3394, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 25
Professional Development
Cultivating an Environment of Growth By Neal Glatt, CSP, ASM
E
veryone wants better employees and today, that usually requires growing them internally. By starting with a high-potential worker and developing them intentionally, companies are able to build a near-ideal employee ready to tackle their specific issues. But employee development only occurs in the right environment. Employee growth is not unlike plant growth in that the result is dependent primarily on environmental factors rather than genetic make-up. Unfortunately, managers rarely audit their environment for employee growth potential and even fewer have clear ideas about the factors that would make a strong growth environment. Here are the seven environmental factors that should be considered when cultivating a culture of development: Advanced Expertise – Employee growth can only occur when there is guidance from an experienced mentor who is setting the pace for production and sharing knowledge. Everyone should have a committed coach or mentor.
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26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL January/February 2024 www.vaturf.org
Continually Challenged – Advancing to the next professional level never happens by accident, so an environment where everyone is challenged to reach higher levels of performance creates the tension needed to advance intentionally. Future-Oriented – A team which is focused on past mistakes doesn’t have the right outlook to grow their team. Growth is always the result of forward thinking where a better reality is a goal and positive intent around its achievement is embraced. Affirming Atmosphere – Development takes a lot of extra work beyond simply the status quo so teams that encourage each other to the next level of their skills are the ones that usually stick it out to see the results. It is the consistency of effort over long periods of time that is enabled through encouragement and brings true results. Mission Driven – When team members understand what their company does to enhance the lives of their customers and how their role contributes to making a difference, they are more likely to wake up excited and be driven to be the best version of themselves. This energy is essential to growth. Failure is Embraced – When we learn new skills and put them into practice, failing is a large part of the learning journey. In fact, learned experience is the quickest way to actually know anything. But a negative reaction to mistakes will deplete growth momentum, so wise team leaders expect failures and embrace the opportunities they provide. Mutual Advancement – People always work best when they’re working together, so teams where every member is growing are far more likely to see positive results. The best environments for growth have individualized and continuous development happening for every person and the culture is one of learning. If your team needs more help growing itself to the next level, or your want help building a better growth environment, check out the industry-specific resources available at www.GrowTheBench.com. VTC members are invited to connect with Neal at neal@growthebench.com.
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